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Publisher's Summary

Amateur sleuth Isabel Dalhousie is a philosopher who uses her training to solve unusual mysteries. She edits the
Review of Applied Ethics and hosts The Sunday Philosophy Club at her house in Edinburgh.

Behind the city's Georgian facades its moral compasses are spinning with greed, dishonesty and murderous intent. Instinct tells Isabel that the young man who tumbled to his death in front of her eyes at a concert didn't fall. He was pushed.

With Isabel Dalhousie, Alexander Mccall Smith introduces a new and pneumatic female sleuth to tackle murder, mayhem - and the mysteries of life.

Very dull.

This was slightly dull and, while the ending was unexpected, that was not necessarily a good thing in this story. The heroine was not a very compelling character, although I suspect her ordinariness was supposed to be her attraction, and she kept going off on odd tangents. She was not very involved in trying to solve the mystery so I wasn't either after a while. She neglected to ask one simple question of any of the other characters early in the piece and that error just became a point of frustration for this listener. The reader was very good.

Sort by:

Overall

4 out of 5 stars

Anniebligh

30-01-2011

Not too light, not too heavy,easy listening.

Like most of Alexander McCall Smith's stories, 'The Sunday Philosophy Club..'
is a little gem. At odd points you are nudged into thinking ever so gently.
Nothing too hard.
Isabel Dalhouse is easily drawn into trying to understand why a young man died.
It is a plausible entry to the mystery. And that is unusual.
I found the reader's clipped style of reading distracting. At times I had to go back and listen again for that reason, to follow the story.
If you commute by train and can pause to look out a window to contemplate a little from time to time, and you like McCall Smith then you could really enjoy this story.
Hilary Neville's style of reading distracted me, it may not distract you. Listen to the sample.

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

Overall

3 out of 5 stars

Performance

3 out of 5 stars

Story

2 out of 5 stars

Kerri

17-12-2012

Review of Ethics

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Unfortunately I did not find this one of Mr McCall Smith's best works. The main character seemed pretentious and spent a lot of time questioning the ethical ramifications of others speech, actions and behaviours. While some time might have been spent on this more could have been done with the actual investigation and subsequent consequences.

Has The Sunday Philosophy Club turned you off from other books in this genre?

While this book didn't grab me, I will treat this as an anomaly and still listen to the next one in the series before making that determination.

Which character – as performed by Hilary Neville – was your favorite?

Ms Neville is a good reader but her performance did not generate any feelings towards any of the characters.

Do you think The Sunday Philosophy Club needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Most certainly this novel needs a follow up. McCall Smith has put a lot of effort into fleshing out the characters another novel might show them with some spunk.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Overall

3 out of 5 stars

Performance

3 out of 5 stars

Story

3 out of 5 stars

Doug Wilkie

27-10-2014

Found it hard to follow and listen to

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No, too hard to follow, goes in too. Many directions. Normally like his writing but he lost me in this one.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Sort by:

Overall

3 out of 5 stars

Performance

4 out of 5 stars

Story

2 out of 5 stars

fiona

13-09-2013

Disappointing

What did you like best about The Sunday Philosophy Club? What did you like least?

The book was well read but having recently listened to, and thoroughly enjoyed, the 44 Scotland St series of books I found the reference to crushed strawberry trousers and Peplow's paintings and others rather repetitive themes. I expected this series to be totally different. Had I listened to this book first I probably wouldn't have bothered to listen to the 44 Scotland Street series which would have been a big loss.

Has The Sunday Philosophy Club put you off other books in this genre?

I won't listen to the rest of this series. It was rather bland with repetitive themes from 44 Scotland St

What about Hilary Neville’s performance did you like?

Excellently read and very easy to listen too

Do you think The Sunday Philosophy Club needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No. But I am very much looking forward to poor Bertie's development in the in the 44 Scotland St series